Apparatus and method for collection of wet concrete residue from dispensing element of concrete delivery vehicles

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for the collection of wet concrete residue that results from rinsing of a concrete dispensing element of a concrete delivery vehicle. The apparatus includes a container body having an internal volume with an open top and a back wall and side wall, a shield guard that extends above a back and at least portions of the side walls of the container body, a containment cover that is hingedly attached to the container body and which permits the containment cover to open between a full opened position where the open top of the container body is accessible, and a fully closed position wherein the container cover water tightly closes the open top of the container body, a drain valve connected to the container body to control flow of liquid out of the container body, a strainer associated with the drain valve which prevents aggregate from being drained through the drain valve, and suspension hooks for suspending the apparatus on a concrete dispensing element of a concrete delivery vehicle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to apparatuses and methods for reclamation of concrete, and more specifically, to a vehicle-mounted apparatus and method for collection of wet concrete residue from dispensing elements of concrete delivery vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Concrete is composed of aggregate (generally a coarse aggregate such as gravel, limestone, or granite, plus a fine aggregate such as sand), cement (commonly Portland cement) and can also include other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement (with the cement and cementitious materials acting to hold the aggregate together, water, and can also include other chemical admixtures. Depending on the intended use, fiberglass, chemicals and other additives can be added. Concrete is commonly transported to a construction site in concrete mixture delivery vehicles, typically concrete transport trucks (in-transit mixers) having a large rotating mixing drum. During transportation, the concrete is in a wet, relatively flowable state. At the construction site, the wet concrete mixture is installed. One typical method to deliver the concrete from the drum is via one or more pour chutes.

After substantially all of the concrete mixture is unloaded from the delivery transport truck, a considerable amount of wet concrete continues to adhere to the pour chutes. In the past, this remaining wet concrete mixture was merely hosed off onto the ground or down storm drains. In recent years, however, the rinse water used to clean the pour chutes is considered a potential groundwater contaminant. Consequently, environmental laws generally prohibit the disbursal of such rinse waters onto the ground, onto streets, or down storm drains. All such rinse waters must be recouped and recycled without being allowed to flow into streets, storm drains or gutters or allowed to percolate into the soil.

One way that has been used to deal with concrete mixture rinse waters at large construction sites has been to deposit such rinse waters in a prefabricated lined evaporation pit. However, the construction of a prefabricated evaporation pit at smaller commercial and residential construction sites is impractical and not cost effective.

There are various devices and systems for removal of concrete chute rinse water in the delivery vehicle. Many systems require the use of expensive and bulky hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical components which must be carried on the delivery vehicle. Such hydraulic or electrical components are expensive to purchase and maintain and awkward to carry on the delivery vehicle. Also, such hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical components leave the driver of the delivery vehicle vulnerable to hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical system failures which would prevent use of the equipment at the construction site. Still further, proposed equipment in the prior art can suffer from leakage of contaminated water during the normal operation. Many prior devices and methods require the use of the vehicle's mixing drum to store the recovered rinse water. Storing such rinse water in the mixing drum can adversely affect the integrity of the next load of concrete mixture prepared and transported within the mixing drum, unless the rinse water is thoroughly drained from the mixing drum prior to the preparation of the next batch of concrete mixture. From a practical standpoint, this is a major disadvantage of such proposed equipment because there is a strong temptation among individual concrete mixture preparation personnel to reuse the rinse water (already in the mixing drum) rather than to take the time to thoroughly drain and reconstitute the rinse water and to replace it in the mixing drum with fresh water.

The co-inventor's prior patented apparatus, covered by U.S. Pat. No. 7,117,995, avoids many of these problems by using a purely gravity fed system comprising a first, opened container for collecting the washed off concrete slurry that is suspended from the concrete chute, a second closed collection container for collecting grey water collected from the first container, and a transfer conduit for gravity feeding of the grey water from the first to the second container. While this system is excellent, there are some situations wherein the volume of grey water to be collected is not excessive, and it would be beneficial to provide a more simplified and lower cost apparatus and method.

Accordingly, there is a need for a vehicle-mounted apparatus and method for collection of wet concrete residue from dispensing elements of concrete delivery vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an apparatus and method useful in the separation of solids from a diluted, wet concrete mixture. The apparatus and method is suitable for use on a concrete mixture delivery vehicle. An apparatus for the collection of wet concrete residue that results from rinsing of a concrete dispensing element of a concrete delivery vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a container body having an internal volume with an open top and a back wall and side wall;

a shield guard that extends above a back and at least portions of the side walls of the container body;

a containment cover that is hingedly attached to the container body and which permits the containment cover to open between a full opened position where the open top of the container body is accessible, and a fully closed position wherein the container cover water tightly closes the open top of the container body

a drain valve connected to the container body to control flow of liquid out of the container body;

a strainer associated with the drain valve which prevents aggregate from being drained through the drain valve; and

suspension engagements for suspending the apparatus on a concrete dispensing element of a concrete delivery vehicle.

An apparatus for the collection of wet concrete residue that results from rinsing of a concrete dispensing element of a concrete delivery vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a container body having an internal volume with an open top and a back wall and side wall;

a shield guard that extends above a back and at least portions of the side walls of the container body;

a containment cover that is adapted to cover the open top of container body;

a drain valve connected to the container body to control flow of liquid out of the container body;

a strainer associated with the drain valve which prevents aggregate from being drained through the drain valve; and

hooks for suspending the apparatus on a concrete dispensing element of a concrete delivery vehicle.

The invention further comprises a method for the collection of and disposing of cement waste from the chute of a concrete delivery vehicle, comprising:

hanging the collection apparatus by its hooks on an end of a concrete delivery vehicle's concrete chute;

washing down the chute so that waste concrete including concrete grey water and aggregate located on the chute is deposited into the apparatus, and not necessary in the following order:

using the containment cover to cover and seal closed the open top of container body of the collection apparatus;

removing the collection apparatus from the end of the chute and securing it to the concrete delivery vehicle; and

transporting the collection apparatus back with the concrete delivery vehicle to a location where concrete grey water is drained from the apparatus and aggregate is emptied from the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially exposed perspective view of an exemplary apparatus for the collection of wet concrete residue from a dispensing element of a concrete delivery vehicle, with its lid in an opened position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exemplary apparatus of FIG. 1, but with its lid in a closed position.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the exemplary apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a detail showing a feature for holding the hinged lid of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a fully opened position.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the exemplary apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional detail view showing one embodiment of how the hinged lid seals with a seating rim on and inside of bucket portion of the apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional detail view showing another embodiment of how the hinged lid seals with a seating rim on and inside of bucket portion of the apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the exemplary apparatus of the invention in use suspended from the end of a concrete delivery chute of a cement delivery truck.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention and several variations of that embodiment. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments. Practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well.

FIG. 1 is a partially exposed perspective view of an exemplary apparatus 10 for the collection of wet concrete residue that results, from rinsing of a dispensing element, such as a chute 60 that delivers concrete from a mixing drum 62 of a concrete delivery vehicle 64 (as best seen in FIG. 6). FIG. 1 shows the exemplary apparatus 10 with its containment cover 28 in an opened position. The apparatus 10 comprises a container body 12 that has side walls 14, a front wall 18, a back wall 18 and a bottom 20. The side walls 14 can preferably have indentations 15 formed therein for added strength, and also to adapt the apparatus 10 to be suspended on a carrying rack 66 on a concrete truck 64. A bottom rim 54 is preferably extends formed below the bottom 20 of the container body 12 and an relief 17 is formed therein, also to help suspend the apparatus on the carrying rack 66 of the concrete delivery truck 64. Extending above the back wall 18 and the side walls 14 is a splash guard portion 21 that has side walls 22 and a back wall 24. The splash guard 21 is preferably integrally formed together with the rest of container body 12, and the container body 12 can, for example, be formed of plastic, fiber reinforced plastic, fiberglass, aluminum, high strength rubber, and the like. While the container portion is shown as generally rectangular in shape, it can also have a more circular or oval shape is desired. A grip 26 can preferably be formed into the top of the back wall 24 of the shield guard 21. A containment cover (e.g., a lid) 28 is provided in order to allow an open top 29 of the container body 12 to be closed. The containment cover 28 can comprise, for example a lid that has a top 30 and a perimeter rim 32, and tabs 34 with the containment cover 28 preferably being pivotally hinged to the container body 12 with pivots 36. While it is preferable that the containment cover 28 be hingedly attached to the apparatus 10, the containment cover 28 can alternately be a lid which is fully detachable from the container portion. A seat 38 is preferably formed about an inside of the container body 12. When the containment cover 28 is lowered it will make sealing contact with the seat 38, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. The containment cover 28 preferably has a hand grip 40 near its front edge. In order to suspend the apparatus from a front on a chute 60 of a concrete delivery truck 64, suspension engagements 42, e.g., hooks, are provided. In the embodiment shown, the hooks 42 are attached to side walls 22 of the splash guard 21, but they could be connected with other portions or even integrally formed with the splash guard 21 if desired. The hooks 42 can preferably be made of metal such as steel, and have a base plate 50 and a backing plate 52 that secure the hooks 42 to the side walls 22 of the shield guard 21. A lip rim 44 can be formed around a front portion of the container body 12 to provide the container body 12 with additional strength and stability. Located on the front wall 16 of the container body 12 is a drain opening with a drain valve 46 connected thereto to allow liquid to be collected inside the apparatus 10 to be drained when desired. In order to prevent coarse aggregate, such as gravel from being drained from the container body 12, a strainer 48 is preferably located on the inside of the container body 12. The size of the openings in the strainer 48 can be sized to stop large gravel and pea gravel, if desired. However, the strainer will allow water and dissolved cement to be drained when desired. The strainer 48 has a plurality of apertures. Typically, the plurality of apertures are round holes having diameters between about ¼ inch and about ⅜ inch. In lieu of providing round holes, the strainer can be formed of a wire mesh, expanded metal, and the like. To securely retain the apparatus 10 in place on the end of the chute 60 of a cement truck 64 during rinsing of the chute 60, an elastic band with a hook 56 can be provided. This same elastic band 56 can be used to further secure the apparatus 10 when engaged with the carrying rack 66 on the concrete delivery truck 64.

The volume of the container base 12 is preferably between about 5 gallons and about 15 gallons, and for easy handling (since fresh water weights 8.35 pounds or 3.8 kg), should preferably not be over 8 to 10 gallons. Typically, the top opening 29 of the base container 12 has a width between about 10 inches and about 20 inches, and more preferably about 14 inches, and a depth typically between about 10 inches and about 20 inches, and more preferably about 14 inches. The height of the container portion 12 can be between about 8 inches and 20 inches, and preferably about 15 inches. For ease of handling, the apparatus 10 can be made of lightweight yet strong and durable materials so its less than about 20 to 25 pounds.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exemplary apparatus of FIG. 1, but with its containment cover 28 in a closed position. In this position, the containment cover 28 seats on the seat, as best shown in FIG. 6. The feature of FIG. 2 are as shown and described with respect to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the exemplary apparatus 10 of FIG. 1. The grip 26 is shown molded in the top of the back wall 24 of the shield guard 21. This grip provides a handy grip for a user to hold and carry the apparatus 10, and as shown in FIG. 4, provides a retention means to keep the containment cover 28 opened during use.

FIG. 4 is a detail showing a feature for holding the hinged containment cover 28 of the apparatus 10 in a fully opened position when it is desired to fully access the open top 29 of the container body 12. This feature comprises an interference fit of the grip 26 formed on the back wall 24 of the shield guard 24, and the hand grip 40 of the containment cover 28. When it is desired to lower the containment cover 28, the user will pull down on the containment cover 28, and thereby release the interference fit of the grip 26 formed on the back wall 24 of the shield guard 24 and the hand grip 40 of the containment cover 28.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the exemplary apparatus 10. The containment body 12 with its side 14 with indentations 15, bottom rim 54 extending formed below the bottom 20 of the container body 12 and relief 17, the shield guard 21, pivots 36, drain valve 46, hooks 42, backing plate 52, and elastic band with hook 56 are shown.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional detail view showing a first exemplary embodiment of how the hinged containment cover 28 seals with the seating rim 38 on and inside of container body 12. A recess 58 is preferably formed around the seating rim 38 (located inside of the lip rim 44) into which the perimeter rim 32 of the hinged containment cover 28 will fit in sealing contact. When the containment cover 28 is lowered, a tight fit can be established that will prevent any liquid and solids (e.g. grey water washed off of the chute 60) from leaking out when the apparatus 10 is carried.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional detail view showing another exemplary embodiment of how the hinged containment cover 28 seals with container body 12. In this embodiment the hinged containment covers has a perimeter rim 32 with an outer surface 60. When the hinged lid is lowered, the outer surface of the perimeter rim 32 will be snuggly positioned against an inside surface 62 of walls 14 (and 16 and 18, not shown) of the container body 12. This will establish a tight fit that will prevent any liquid and solids (e.g. grey water washed off of the chute 70) from leaking out when the apparatus 10 is carried.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the exemplary apparatus 10 of the invention in use suspended from the end of a concrete delivery chute 70 connected to the mixing drum 72 of a concrete delivery vehicle 74. While the apparatus 10 is shown as hanging on a rear positioned chute 70, the apparatus can be used for cleaning front mounted chutes (not shown), or other delivery chutes.

In operation and method of the invention, after concrete is delivered from the mixing drum 72 and down the chute, and no more concrete is needed, there will remain a considerable amount of concrete residue on the chute 70. If this concrete were to be left unattended on the chute 70, and the concrete deliver vehicle 74 attempted to drive away, concrete would spill on roadway and the remaining concrete on the chute would cure and interfere with smooth delivery of future loads of concrete from the chute 70. Accordingly, concrete delivery drivers will invariably rinse the chute 70 will a hose to remove concrete. As noted above, in the past, many drivers would simply allow the rinse water, which is full of cement and aggregate to fall onto the ground, roadways, or flow down sewers and storm drains, which is highly polluting. Using the apparatus and method of the invention, after an operator of the concrete delivery vehicle has completed delivering concrete, any loose and excess concrete is first scraped off the chute 70 and collected on a pile as waste concrete, typically on a pile at the job site. After that, the operator will suspend the apparatus 10 by its hooks 42 on the end of the chute 70 (which has complementary suspension points) of a concrete delivery vehicle 74, with the containment cover 28 in an opened position with the back wall 24 of the shield guard 21 facing the end of the chute 70 so that the concrete being rinsed will not splash outside of the apparatus 10. The operator will ensure that drain valve 46 is closed. The operator will then rinse the chute and related parts with a stream of water (e.g., from a hose), and allow the rinsed grey water and any aggregate to be rinsed into the container body 12 of the apparatus 10. After the chute is thoroughly rinsed and is clean, the operator will close the containment cover 28 to secure the contained grey water and aggregate in the container body 12, and will lift and remove the apparatus from the end of the chute 70. The operator will then place the apparatus 10 and its contents on the rack 76 and secure it for travel back to the concrete delivery vehicle's 74 base of operation, e.g., a ready mix facility. At the concrete ready mix facility, the grey water will be drained from the apparatus 10, e.g., by opening the drain valve 46, and if desired, can be recycled back into future loads of concrete to be mixed. The aggregate and other solids that are collected in the container body 12, can then be dumped out of the apparatus 10 and if desired, reused.

Unlike prior art systems that require pumps and drain lines that connect containers, with the current invention, the container body 10 both collects the grey water and aggregate from the chute being rinsed and also permits easy carrying and handling of the collected liquids and solids back to the concrete delivery truck's base of operation.

The invention provides for a simple and efficient method of dealing with waste concrete mix residue without the need of expensive, bulky and difficult to maintain electrical and/or hydraulic components. The incorporation of a lid with the apparatus alleviates problems of spillage after the collection of grey water and provides a quick and easy solution for a vexing problem.

Having thus described the invention, it should be apparent that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of the instant invention as set forth hereinabove and as described hereinbelow by the claims. 

1. An apparatus for the collection of wet concrete residue that results from rinsing of a concrete dispensing element of a concrete delivery vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a container body having an internal volume with an open top and a back wall and side wall; a shield guard that extends above a back and at least portions of the side walls of the container body; a containment cover that is adapted to cover and seal closed the open top of container body; a drain valve connected to the container body to control flow of liquid out of the container body; a strainer associated with the drain valve which prevents aggregate from being drained through the drain valve; and hooks for suspending the apparatus on a concrete dispensing element of a concrete delivery vehicle.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the splash guard is formed from a single piece of plastic material along with the container body.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the splash guard and container body are a unitary structure formed form plastic.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the containment cover is hingeably attached to the container body to permit the containment cover to open between a full opened position where the open top of the container body is accessible, and a fully closed position wherein the container cover water tightly closes the open top of the container body.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container body has a seat formed along inside edges near the open top of the container body, which seat is adapted to sealingly contact with the containment cover when the containment cover is closed.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the seat has an upper surface and a recess, and wherein the containment cover has a top and a perimeter rim, which perimeter rim is adapted to seat within the recess with the top making contact with the seat to thereby prevent liquid from escaping from container body.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the containment cover has a top and a perimeter edge extending around the top and wherein the perimeter edge will water tightly seal with an inner surface of the container body when the containment cover is closed.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the containment cover further comprises a hand grip and the shield guard comprises a complementary grip, which grips will interference fit with each other to hold the containment cover open.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the suspension engagements comprise a pair of hooks which are affixed to the shield guard.
 10. An apparatus for the collection of wet concrete residue that results from rinsing of a concrete dispensing element of a concrete delivery vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a container body having an internal volume with an open top and a back wall and side wall; a shield guard that extends above a back and at least portions of the side walls of the container body, the splash guard and container body being integrally formed from a single piece of plastic material; a containment cover that is hingedly attached to the container body and which permits the containment cover to open between a full opened position where the open top of the container body is accessible, and a fully closed position wherein the container cover water tightly closes the open top of the container body a drain valve connected to the container body to control flow of liquid out of the container body; a strainer associated with the drain valve which prevents aggregate from being drained through the drain valve; and suspension engagements for suspending the apparatus on a concrete dispensing element of a concrete delivery vehicle.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the containment cover has a top and a perimeter edge extending around the top and wherein the perimeter edge will water tightly seal with an inner surface of the container body when the containment cover is closed.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the containment cover further comprises a hand grip and the shield guard comprises a complementary grip, which hand grip and complementary grip will interference fit with each other to hold the containment cover open.
 13. A method for the collection of and disposing of cement waste from the chute of a concrete delivery vehicle, comprising: hanging the apparatus of claim 1 by its hooks on an end of a concrete delivery vehicle's concrete chute; washing down the chute so that waste concrete including concrete grey water and aggregate located on the chute is deposited into the apparatus, and not necessary in the following order: using the containment cover to cover and seal closed the open top of container body of the apparatus; removing the apparatus from the end of the chute and securing it to the concrete delivery vehicle; and transporting the apparatus back with the concrete delivery vehicle to a location where concrete grey water is drained from the apparatus and aggregate is emptied from the apparatus. 